Rose sighed as Jack pulled up in front of her house. It was Sunday afternoon and it had been a weekend full of fun, love, and passion. Jack had made something that had been a scary thought into something beautiful and special for her and she would be forever thankful to him. It was a beautiful weekend, but now it was coming to a close and she didn't know how to handle the swell of emotion washing over her. She knew that she'll see him again the next day for school, but there was still so many hours from now until then. How was she going to cope?

"I can't believe it. The ride back seemed so much shorter than the ride there," Rose sighed, chewing on her bottom lip.

"I know," Jack chuckled, reaching out to tuck a red strand behind her ear.

"I got used to waking up next to you."

"I know. I did too. But we must go to our separate corners now. We'll get used to it again."

"How can I get used to not waking up to those eyes tomorrow?" Rose sighed, leaning in and claiming his lips in a deep kiss full of longing. Jack wanted to give in to it, but he knew that he couldn't. Their relationship may be on a new level now, but they still had to deal with the same barriers that were there before. He reluctantly pulled away and gently touched her cheek, giving a sad smile.

"I don't know, baby, but we're going to have to get used to it. I'll skype you before bed. It's not the same..."

"But it'll have to do," Rose sighed. She kissed him again one last time, then gathered her will power and got out of the car.

Five minutes later, she had her luggage and purchases in hand and was standing on her doorstep, waving to Jack, who remained in his car. He had wanted to walk her to the door, but she had insisted that he stay in the car. That it would be easier for the both of them. She watched as he waved and then backed down the driveway and drove away, leaving her on the doorstep of her mother's house, wishing that he'd come back.

Missing him already, Rose gathered up her things and managed to carry her belongings into the house, where Trudy and Carlotta was making their way down the stairs.

"Miss. Rose! Why didn't you call us for help?" Carlotta tsked, rushing over to help Rose with her belongings.

"Oh, I didn't think about it. Don't worry, Carlotta, I have it."

"Nonsense, Miss. Rose. This is my job. I will take your belongings to your room for you. I will let your mother know that you have returned," Carlotta gathered up all that Rose had brought and carried them upstairs, leaving Rose alone with an excited Trudy, who was thirsty for details.

"How was it? Was it as romantic as you hoped?" Trudy almost squealed, pulling her friend into the living room. Ruth would probably frown upon her daughter using the room to discuss her private life with the help, but she didn't really care. Trudy was her friend would be treated like all of her friends who would come visit.

"It was very romantic. Oh the house itself, wasn't much...but that didn't matter. It was Jack who made it special. He's so..I can't even describe. And Venice Beach...if we weren't moving to New York, I would definitely want to live there. Art is everywhere, Trudy. Jack would thrive there and as for me...well I'm sure I could sell the pottery I would make or do something creative too..."

"So you're not going to New York?" Trudy frowned, confused.

"Oh we still are. I'm just saying, we could make our home there as well," Rose giggled. "Anyway, I had a wonderful time."

"I'm sure that you did. And what of the other romantic times? Did you two...?"

Rose blushed and smiled, nodding her head. She couldn't say it. She may melt into a puddle of happiness if she said it, but she could nod. "He made something that had been scary to me for so long into something beautiful. I just...I can't explain it. He gave me something special last night."

"Oh how romantic," Trudy sighed.

"Trudy...if I didn't know it before, I know it now, for sure. I am truly, deeply, in love with Jack Dawson. We fit together so perfectly, as if we were meant to be. Who knows...maybe we are. I can't wait to see him again."

"Oh I bet you can't," Trudy squealed with delight, happy for her friend. At the beginning of the year, Rose had been so sad. It was good to see that sadness gone, replaced by this happiness that could only come from loving someone.

"Rose, there you are," Ruth came into the room, taking off her gloves. "I was beginning to worry. How long have you been back?"

"Not long, mother. About ten minutes," Rose got to her feet.

"Hmm...well, I have a banquet to go to. I had Carlotta make some lasagna for dinner. Try not to gorge too much. You do have a figure to maintain," Ruth cautioned.

Rose just rolled her eyes, not at all bothered. It's been a good long while since she had worried about her weight. She didn't see the need to start worrying now.

"Don't worry mother. I haven't gained much weight by now. I doubt I will now. Besides, Jack loves me, no matter how much I weigh," Rose turned to go up to her room, eager to start hanging up the paintings that she had brought.

Ruth didn't say anything else as she walked out the door. She was really in no mood to argue with her daughter at the moment. Rose too was in no mood for a fight. She just wanted to unpack and unwind, and get used to not having Jack around 24/7.

…..

Jack returned home to a Julie who was all ready to tease him. He tried to be quiet about his return, but his cousin was camped out on the couch, laying in wait.

"So has the deed been done? Can we now finally relax now that all the sexual tension between you two has been dispersed? Or did she back out at the last second, dooming us all?" Julie snorted when Jack came through the door.

Jack rolled his eyes as he sat his bags down near the stairs. "What? No hello? No I missed you Jack? You just right in with the jokes."

Julie chuckled. "Oh come on! You had to have expected it! You and Rose were practically doing it with your clothes on by time you took off for the weekend. I, as your cousin, is just concerned."

"Yeah. I'm sure," Jack disappeared into the kitchen. He's not surprised when Julie got up to follow him. He sighed as he took a mountain dew out of the fridge. "What?"

"How did it go? Was the house in bad shape? It wasn't too dusty was it? Did you and Rose do the deed or not?"

"The house is fine, even though some work can be done on it, but it served it's purpose. And whether we did the deed or not is none of your business. Rose and I...our relationship is stronger than ever and that is all you need to know."

"So you did do it."

"Julie!"

"What is going on in here? Welcome back, Jack," Aunt Beth came in, kissing her nephew's cheek. "Did you have a nice weekend with Rose?"

"It was great, Aunt Beth. It was exactly what we needed. Rose didn't think about her father's death once," Jack happily smiled. "And I think it helped her in other ways as well."

"That's good. She's such a sweet girl. I hate to think of her as being upset," Beth smiled.

"She kind of wants to live in Venice now. She has this dream of me being a famous artist working on the boardwalk and her having a small law practice near the beach,"Jack chuckled.

"Dreams of the young," Beth smiled.

"Well, I better go unpack. Tomorrow is another school day," Jack grinned, slipping out of the kitchen and away from his inquisitive cousin. What a weekend it had been. It was one that he will never forget as long as he lived.

…..

Rose had just slipped on her nightshirt when her computer made the sound signaling that she had a skype call. Squealing in delight, she signed on and smiled to see Jack's beautiful face staring at her.

"Jack..."

"Hey, I told you that I'd skype you before bed, didn't I?" Jack chuckled.

"Yes you did, even though it's not the same as having you with me. I keep thinking about last night."

"I do to. I can still feel your soft skin beneath my fingers...I can't wait until we can have that all the time," Jack sighed.

"We definitely did get spoiled over the weekend, huh?" Rose giggled. "But seriously, I don't know how I'm going to get to sleep without you beside me."

"I'll be beside you in spirit...I know it's not the same, but it's the best I can do for now," Jack sighed, also wishing that he could be there beside her instead.

"I never thought that my feelings for you can deepen the way they have. It's amazing. I've never felt like this about anyone before..."

"Neither have I..."

"Rose, are you still up?" Ruth called, hearing voices from her daughter's room.

"Great. My mother has decided to behave like a mother," Rose rolled her eyes. She sighed and called out. "I'm just skyping with Jack!"

"Well say good-night, tomorrow is school! You'll see the boy tomorrow!"

"Yes mother," Rose sighed before turning back to the computer. "Ugh, I hate the real world."

Jack just chuckled. "We'll get used to it again, I'm sure. I better get off as well before Uncle Phil comes in wanting to know what I'm doing up still. I just needed to see you before I turned in for the night. Tell you that I love you and sweet dreams."

"I'm glad that you did. I love you too...and of course you have sweet dreams too..."

"Rose!" Ruth called again, aware that Rose hasn't signed off yet.

"I have to go. Good-night, Jack," Rose sighed.

"Good-night, Rosebud. See you tomorrow. I love you."

They both signed off at the same time, each feeling the ache of the others absence. Rose really could use the comfort of Jack's body laying next to her, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. Sighing, she turned off the computer and slipped into bed, looking forward to the morning, when she'll see him again.