(I had to break through writer's block, but here it is thankfully and I'm pretty satisfied with it. I was going to start off with them going on the cruise, but felt a filler chapter was needed to break the arch of angst they had just been through. So this is a really fluffy chapter with some smut included. There's also a shout out to Koshi McFly in a way. Her recent chapters of Light Up My Life has inspired this chapter. So I'm also dedicating this chapter to her as well. Thank you for all the encouragement on my stories and listening to the different ideas I get for them. Your reviews and your constructive criticism as well is greatly appreciated! Anyway, enough rambling from me and on with the story! Enjoy and don't forget to review!)
It's one week before the big senior class trip. Things between Jack and Rose have gotten better, but Jack felt that there still was some tension between them. Tension that he didn't want there for the class trip, so he decided to that a spontaneous trip to the beach house in Venice would do the trick. It'd just be he and Rose and that's what he needed. No ignoring Julie because she won't be there. No calls from friends, because both he and Rose agreed that the Venice house was a no telephone territory. It was just to be the two of them.
Rose's car made the trip smoothly. Jack missed his car, but he had to admit that he loved riding in Rose's car with the top down. He loved the way the air felt blowing through his hair and how it made Rose's curl's bounce gracefully, tempting him to run his fingers through the soft strands.
"Why do you keep looking at me?" Rose giggled, feeling Jack's eyes on her once again.
"It's your hair. I want to play with those gorgeous curls," Jack happily sighed. "I should draw you like this. Your eyes on the road, your gorgeous hair blowing in the wind."
Rose blushed. She never did understand why Jack was always drawing her. She just couldn't believe him when he said that she was just that beautiful and inspirational. He was her boyfriend; he probably had to say that. "You should draw something more interesting. Like the sunset…or some gorgeous flowers."
"I already have my gorgeous flower right here," Jack took the hand that wasn't on the steering wheel. "I wish you could see yourself the way that I see you. Then you would understand."
Finally they pulled into the driveway that led up to the Dawson beach house. Rose parked her car into the disused garage that they hadn't even used last time and got out, grabbing her overnight bag while Jack grabbed his bag and portfolio. They walked out of the garage and looked at the house, memories running through their heads. The place hadn't changed since the last time they had been here, which seemed like a thousand years ago now. A time before Jack's big mess up and Rose's hurt feelings and the accident that had Rose now feeling less deserving of the boy she had loved here.
They both felt a disconnect from the happy couple that had shared this place earlier that year. Hopefully, this overnight trip will help them find that couple again so they can go on with their lives and be happy in time for the big cruise coming up.
Rose licked her lips, feeling a little nervous. She still remembered that night she first made love to Jack. He had given her the meaning of the act back to her. He had made it into something beautiful for her. It was something that she didn't deserve.
Jack looked at her again and sighed as he saw the look on her face. It was a look that he had seen more than once since the accident and it made him even angrier with his cousin each and every time. He took her hand and gently squeezed it.
"Stop that," He simply said.
Rose frowned. "What?"
"Stop thinking that you don't deserve this. You do. You deserve all of it, especially after the year you had. So stop thinking that you don't."
Rose blinked confused, and then she had no choice but to smile wryly with a little laugh. "Damn your ability to read me."
Jack just smiled and kissed her hand. "You're an open book and I'm glad. So when you feel like that, I can banish the thoughts from your head."
He gripped her hand and pulled her up onto the porch and into the house. Rose looked around, again noting that it was just as they had left it.
"So what do we do now?"
"How about we take our bags up to the bedroom and then we go out to eat somewhere fancy? We're going to need all the practice we can get for the cruise," Jack winked, trying not to think how he liked how soft Roses skin looked in the lime green sundress that she was wearing. God, she was so beautiful. His fingers still wanted to get lost amongst those gorgeous red curls of hers.
"That sounds like a plan…and then maybe we can take a walk on the boardwalk? I'm in the mood to look at some art," Rose smiled, trying not to think of how his gaze was making her feel hot inside or how just the thought of being alone with him in the bedroom made her desire for him rise some more. Right now, she could still remember how his artist fingers had felt on her bare skin. He wanted him to touch her like that again. Like she was some masterpiece he was putting together…
"I'd like that too. Okay, that's what we'll do. And then we can come back here and watch Ghost."
Rose's eyes widened. She hadn't been expecting him to bring her favorite movie of all time. "Jack…you brought Ghost?"
"Of course. It is your favorite, movie, right? I was thinking of bringing Ghostbusters or the Back to the Future trilogy, but I figured that you'd want something more romantic….I also brought Dirty Dancing as well. We can have a Patrick Swayze double feature if you like…"
Rose squealed and dropped her bags as she wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Jack always seemed to think of what she'd like. "Thank you! I love Patrick Swayze! He was so romantic…and I promise. Next time we'll watch Ghostbusters and Back to the Future. That Marty McFly is pretty romantic himself."
"You think so?" Jack laughed, trying not to feel too jealous. After all, Michael J Fox was twice their age now and Marty McFly was a fictional guy. Jack Dawson was very much real.
"Oh yeah. But he's not as romantic as you," Rose giggled, loving the little spike of jealousy in Jack's eyes. It was good to know that he was capable of getting jealous too. Even if it was of a fictional character.
"Let's get these bags upstairs than be on our way," Rose kissed Jack again before picking up her bag and going up to the bedroom that they were going to share.
After they got through dumping their bags in front of the closet, they joined hands and left the house. Jack knew just the restaurant that Rose would enjoy. It wasn't overly fancy, but it was still nice, even though it was a little more pricy than normal restaurants.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked, allowing Jack to take the lead. He of course knew the area more than she did.
"You'll see. You are going to love it," Jack grinned, continuing to walk along until they reach a two story square brick building with a balcony surrounding the top floor and a small patio in the back. The building sat on the beach and French music drifted out into the air, mixing in with the sound of seagulls, giving the atmosphere a romantic flare.
Rose gasped at the sight of the building. "Why didn't you bring me here last time?"
"Last time we both were a bit too preoccupied. I hadn't even thought about it," Jack chuckled, a little embarrassed that he hadn't thought of it then like he did now.
Rose blushed. "I know what you mean. My mind was on the thought of just being with you, I probably wouldn't have remembered this place anyway. It's good that you've brought me here now. Now I'll remember it better."
"You don't want to be with me now?" Jack teased. He knew she did. It was in her eyes every time she looked at him or touched her hand.
"Oh I do. It's just not so overwhelming like it was last time. Last time I couldn't think of anything else but you. Now I'm more stable," Rose giggled as Jack wrapped his arms around her shoulders and steered her inside, where there was a hostess waiting for them.
"Bonjour. How may I help you?" The pretty brunette smiled.
"Table for two please. Make it somewhere quiet and private and where we can see the ocean," Jack requested.
The hostess just smiled and grabbed two menus. "Follow me monsieur."
Jack kept Rose's hand in his until they were seated at the far corner of the restaurant away from the other diners, at a window that looked out onto the beach with the ocean stretching out into the horizon. Rose gasped at the beauty of the scene.
"This is lovely Jack," She smiled happily at her boyfriend, who looked rather pleased himself.
"Thank you, ma'am," Jack turned to the hostess, knowing that she was the one that deserved the credit.
"It's my pleasure. I'll leave you two to make your choices. Your waitress will be with you in a moment," The hostess winked before leaving the teenagers to themselves.
Rose opened the menu and looked unsure. The place was indeed pricey. "Jack…why don't we make this my treat? You're providing everything else. I should contribute."
"You don't have to do that Rose. I have some money left over from the funds I had for cruise shopping. It's no problem," Jack shrugged, not minding at all. He loved spoiling his girl. He inwardly grinned at that. This perfect lovely princess was his girl. He couldn't help but be proud that she was with him.
"I know, but I want to also contribute in this relationship. I don't want to be some decorative princess that depends on her man for everything…are you preening?" Rose laughed noticing Jack's posture, which seemed a bit straighter than usual.
"Preening? Isn't that something a bird does?" Jack asked, an eyebrow arched.
"You are! You're preening! I don't know what for, but you are!"
Jack's smile faded a little and his face turned serious. "You really don't know why?"
Rose just shook her head, not liking how serious Jack seemed now.
"I have every reason to…preen as you call it. I have every reason to be proud. I'm the boyfriend of the most beautiful girl in the world. I have the love of a girl whose beauty could launch a thousand ships if need be. And not only is she beautiful, she's kind and sweet, and smart too. So yeah. I'm very proud."
Rose blushed. No one has ever said something like that to her, not even Matthew. Jack treated her in a way that no man has ever treated her before. "You really know how to charm a girl, Jack."
"That's nice to know. But I don't want just any girl. I want you. Only you."
"You know, I'm proud too. All the girls in here are looking at our table…"
"Because of you," Jack interjected, sure that everyone who had eyes were admiring his girl. Men and women alike.
"No. They're not looking at me at all. They're looking at the beautiful man I'm with. Everything about you is so pretty, from your face to your gorgeous soul. You're the most wonderful boy and I am proud to have your love, even though I don't deserve it…"
"Hey, stop that. Look, I am the one that decides who deserves my love, no one else. Not Julie and not you. I decide. It's my choice and I choose you. You deserve my love, devotion…all I have to give. It's yours and you deserve it," Jack kissed her hand.
"One day I'm going to believe you, Jack. Then it'll be too late to make a quick get away," Rose smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm not going to want to get away. Not ever," Jack grinned, opening up his menu. "Let's order, shall we? Oh look, they have caviar…"
"I happen to hate caviar," Rose laughed, remembering a long ago conversation they once had about rich people and their taste for expensive things and Rose had gone on a tangent about how disgusting she found caviar and hated whoever thought it was a good idea to eat raw fish eggs.
"I remember," Jack winked, also remembering the rant. "Which is why I'm skipping it. Don't want to displease my lady."
They ended up ordering a pasta dish for Rose and a steak dish for Jack and shared a large chocolate dessert that was really made for two people to share.
Once dinner was finished, the teens put their money together and paid for the meal. Jack had wanted to pay the whole bill himself, but Rose insisted on helping. Jack didn't argue. If paying for her half of the meal was what Rose wanted, he'll let her. All that mattered was that they reconnected again and grew stronger. Leaving the restaurant, he was pretty sure that they were almost back to where they used to be before his big mess up.
…..
Back at the house, Rose put on some popcorn while Jack got the soda and they went up to the bedroom, where Jack popped in Dirty Dancing first. They cuddled together as they watched the movie. He watched Rose as she laughed at the amusing parts and sighed at the romantic parts. At the end, she looked at Jack with stars in her eyes.
"I would love to dance like that with you, Jack," She sighed.
"Well, prom is coming up. I'll just walk up and say, no one puts Rose in a corner, then sweep you off your feet," Jack grinned, kissing her nose.
"No, I mean real ballroom dancing. The lifts and all. It'd be so great if we learned how, wouldn't it?"
Jack just laughed and shook his head. "And tell me, where would we dance like that, Rose? I mean, we can learn, but where will we be able to show it off?"
"New York. We can get a job at a resort like Penny and Johnny and teach people how to dance too and at night, wow them with our dance moves! Wouldn't it be fun, Jack? To lift me up in the air like a bird! I'd really feel like I'm flying like that," Rose sighed dreamily.
Jack just smiled, loving to hear Rose talk like this, her voice full of happiness and hope. Even if it never happened, it was wonderful just to hear her talk. It made him want to make it happen. "We'll see Rose. We'll see. If anything, I'll teach you how to fly, one way or another."
"I'm going to hold you to that Jack."
The next movie, Ghost, of course ended with Rose in tears. She was cuddled between Jack's legs, pressed against his chest. Her face was buried in the white t-shirt he wore while he held her tight and stroked her back, ignoring how tight his night shorts now fitted, thanks to her closeness. She was so soft and she smelled of wild flowers and god he wanted her.
"Why, Jack? Whhhhy?" Rose sobbed.
"I know, Rose. But think of it this way. Someday, they'll meet up in heaven and will have a lovely reunion. He'll take her in his arms and kiss her like she's never been kissed before and all the angels will applaud to see two soulmates back together again…"
Rose sniffed, lifting her face to look at him, tears sliding from her beautiful green eyes. "Jack…"
"Yes Rose?"
"Can I use that in my next fanfic story?"
Jack couldn't help it. He laughed. He had no idea that Rose wrote fanfic, but if she wanted to use it, it was hers. "It's yours. Use it if you wish."
Rose happily squealed and hugged him tight, her body pressing against his, causing him to gasp as she again pressed against a certain part of his anatomy. She pulled away, blushing. "Sorry about that…"
He swallowed and smiled, readjusting his hips so she wasn't pressed up against him so tightly. "It's okay…no harm done…"
Rose just smiled, before doing something that Jack had not been expecting her to do. She pulled off the sundress she had been wearing, leaving herself clad only in a lacy white bra and matching panties.
Jack's pants tightened even more at the sight of her. God, she was too beautiful. "Rose…"
"Take it off me, Jack…"
Jack's mouth ran dry as he reached around her and unfastened the bra and slid it off her. He watched as her milky white breasts were exposed. He had seen her naked before, and each time was like the first time. He couldn't take his eyes off of the curvy beauty before him.
She reached out and pulled down his shorts. His breathing hitched when his erection was exposed, ready and waiting for her.
"Put your hands on me Jack…and I'll put my hands on you…"
Their lovemaking was slow and luxurious as they explored each other's bodies once again. They each felt the reconnecting of their spirits as they lost each other in themselves. As their climax hit, they knew that what had been lost was regained and they were stronger than ever. They had been to the dark abyss and had survived. Their love was strong and would see them through anything. It was all that they would ever need.
Laying in Jack's arms afterward, Rose felt the feeling that she didn't deserve him and what they shared disappear. Jack was right. The choice was his and he had chosen her. There was no point in arguing the point or feeling any other way. If Jack felt that she was deserving of all he was giving her, well then she was. It didn't matter what anyone else had to say about the matter.
