A/N: I updated many chapters today, so make sure you're actually up to this one before starting to read. Enjoy the story!
Jack looked at Rose, who was still half asleep. "Wake up darling," said Jack, kissing her lips lightly.
"Mmmmm," said Rose, waking up. "Good morning. What's going on?"
"Today's the big day!" Jack said excitedly. "We have a bake-off today. It's televised and everything."
"How am I going to do that?" Rose asked. "My memory still isn't back."
Jack squeezed Rose's hand. "I'm going to be there the whole time. I know exactly what you're supposed to be doing, and I can help you."
Rose smiled. "Perfect, I guess we can do it together, then."
Everyone got up and dressed, and Jack made breakfast for the children. Finally they left. When they arrived at the bake off, Jack and Rose found their station while the kids found their seats with Emma, Ben, and their children.
"Couples," said the host, "Pick up your whisks."
Rose and Jack had finished baking and preparing the batter, and Jack left to put the cake in the oven. Olivia walked over to him, and Jack picked her up and held her in his arms. This was when Rose smelled something familiar. She stuck her nose into the batter bowl. Lemon Cake. Rose's legs ached. Actually, everything ached. Suddenly, a familiar song began to play.
'Oh, this song is so familiar', Rose thought to herself. The sweet lemony smell of the baking as overpowering. It was impossible for Rose to think of anything but lemon cake.
'That smell is so… familiar.'
'Yes, because it's a lemon cake. You know what a lemon cake smells like.'
But there was something more than that. It meant something. Rose's face had been feeling flushed and hot. Now she felt cold, as if she'd stepped into an icy wind. Oh dear, she wasn't well. She really wasn't well. She looked desperately for Jack to help her. She finally saw Jack suddenly put Olivia down and walk back over.
The scent of lemon cake was becoming stronger and stronger. It was going straight u her nostrils and trickling into her brain, filling it with memory. Oh god. Rose's legs buckled.
•••
Daniella's journal entry:
I missed seeing Rose collapse because I had gone outside to use the bathroom. They had a row of these plastic port-a-potties.
I was bleeding.
I thought, how fitting. That I should be losing my last baby in a port-a-potty.
Trashy and slightly laughable. Like my life.
•••
Rose passed out cold, but her mind was still running. In her head were the swirling memories.
The memory of Rose marrying Jack. The memory of Rose having each of the children. The memories of Rose and Jack just living their everyday lives.
"Rose? Rose?"
Jack was propping her up. "Back," said Rose.
"You've hurt your back?" asked Jack.
'No, I meant it's all coming back. My memory is coming back.' Rose thought to herself.
It was as if a dam wall had burst in her brain, releasing a raging torrent of memories. "Get her some water," said someone.
"Let's get her outside into the fresh air," said someone else.
Rose was dimly aware that she was being half carried, half dragged out of the hall. People were staring, but she couldn't focus on anything but the memories rushing through her brain.
Memories continued entering her brain.
"Rose? Take deep breaths." She ignored their voices. She was busy remembering.
"I wonder if we should call a doctor?"
"No," said Rose out loud, her eyes shut. "I'm all right. Just give me a minute." Now she was remembering the past week and a half. It was as if she'd been permanently drunk. She was mortified.
Rose opened her eyes. She was sitting in front of the banquet hall. Jack had his arm tightly around her. "Are you alright?" Jack asked.
Rose looked at him. She looked at him more deeply than she had the last two weeks.
"You've got your memory back," he said. It wasn't a question; he already knew the answer.
"I'll go tell the children you're alright," said Emma. "They're worried about you."
Jack smiled and gave Rose a kiss on the forehead. He hugged her tightly against himself. "Everything is alright now, sweetheart."
A/N: I only have one or two chapters left of this story, so I hope you enjoyed!