Chapter Twenty Seven: Another One Bites The Dust by Queen

"Hey," said Jack, answering Rose's FaceTime.

"Happy birthday," said Rose. She blew him a kiss.

"No," said Jack. "Happy anniversary."

"Happy birthday."

"Happy anniversary."

Rose sighed and smiled. "Happy anniversary."

"I need to see you," said Jack.

"I know," said Rose. "It's been a month now and there's no sign of getting out of here."

"I know," said Jack.

"Can you see what I'm wearing?" Rose asked.

"The hoodie?" Jack asked.

"Yeah. It makes me feel like you're with me," said Rose.

"Jack, mail call," Thomas yelled.

"Check the mail," said Rose.

"Now?" Jack asked.

"Now," said Rose.

Jack stood up and walked downstairs. He looked through the mail and found a box. "When did you have time to make it?"

There was a box, decorated with glitter, and Jack's name was written on it. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe since I've been inside for a month," said Rose. "It's a placeholder gift. Until I can get you a real one."

Jack smiled. "I love it," he said. "And that makes it real."

Rose watched as Jack took the box upstairs to his room. "Open it."

Jack opened the lid and inside were snacks, movies, drinks, and art supplies. "You sent me a care package?"

"There's more," said Rose. "Look under the confetti."

Jack reached down and pulled out the last item. It was a picture frame with a picture of them in it. It was a picture of them dancing at the dance. "I love it. Thank you."

"Like I said, it's the best I could do in quarantine," said Rose.

"You're perfect," said Jack. He looked at her, overwhelmed by his longing for her. "This has been the best year of my entire life."

"Same here," said Rose. "You know, we should move our anniversary one day so that we can properly celebrate your birthday, and our anniversary."

"I don't care about my birthday," said Jack. "We could just move that."

"We can't move the day you were born!" Rose said.

"Well, we can't move the day we met!" Jack said back.

"Touché," said Rose. "So we celebrate them both on the same day?"

Jack laughed. "Looks like it." He looked at her, just wanting to see her, kiss her, touch her. "Future game?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "We'll actually be able to see each other."

Jack laughed. "Yes," he said. "And we'll come home to each other at the end of the day."

"Can I ask you a question?" Rose asked.

"Sure," said Jack.

Rose sighed. "Are we endgame?"

"What?" Jack asked.

"You know, endgame is two people who end up together," said Rose. "So I guess my question is, do you think I'm the girl you're going to end up with?"

Jack smiled. "Oh, absolutely."

"Really?" Rose asked.

"Really," said Jack. "We play the future game together all the time, but I play it on my own, too."

"You do?" Rose asked.

"Yes. And in my future game, we're together our entire lives. Even though we spend every night together, we miss each other when we're at our separate jobs," said Jack.

"You're perfect," said Rose. "Can I tell you something a little… weird?"

"Sure," said Jack.

"I don't believe in marriage," said Rose.

"You don't?"

"No," said Rose. "It doesn't mean anything. Look at my parents. They were married and they hated each other. If it was something that was important to you, I would do it, but-"

"Neither do I," said Jack. "I just don't think it's necessary or valuable to a romantic relationship. We can promise to spend the rest of our lives together without getting the government involved."

Rose smiled. "Exactly," she said. Her smile faded. "Are you sure you want this? That you're not just… agreeing with me?"

"Oh, I'm too stubborn with that," said Jack.

"No, you're not," said Rose. "If there's one of us who's stubborn, it's me."

Jack laughed. "I can't exactly argue with that."

"I love you," said Rose. She put her finger against the phone. It was the closest she could get to touching him.

"I love you too," said Jack.

"Goodnight," Rose whispered.

"Goodnight," Jack whispered back.

They both hung up, and Rose bursted into tears. She looked over at Helga. "How are you okay with this?"

Helga walked over to her bed. "I'm not," she said. "There's nothing we can do about it. So… we just accept it for what it is."

Rose cried some more before going onto her phone and finding her favorite picture of her and Jack. She set it as her background and cried some more before falling asleep.

•••

The next few weeks were horrible for Jack and Rose. They desperately wanted to see each other, but they weren't allowed. And as a security measure, Thomas and Molly had put up security cameras in the hallways and roof.

Rose was fast asleep one morning, and Molly came into her room to talk to her and Helga. Rose opened her eyes and heard them talking seriously and quietly. "What's going on?"

"Quarantine's over," said Molly. "The governor said groups of fifty or less can gather together, and that's more than we have."

Rose jumped up. "Oh my god." She turned on her phone and saw there were no texts. "Does Jack know?"

"Well, Thomas and I started telling everyone at the same time," said Molly. "He probably knows."

Rose went to the bathroom and rushed to put on makeup and brush her hair. It only took her about five minutes, which was twenty five minutes shorter than usual. She opened her closet and found the outfit she had set aside for the day they were reunited. She quickly put it on and grabbed her shoes and ran outside.

She ran outside and saw Jack. Both their faces lit up as they ran towards each other. Rose jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around him. "I missed you," they said at the same time.

Jack held Rose in his arms. Rose had her arms wrapped around his neck and cried into his shoulder.

Jack put her down and placed his hands on her cheeks. "What's wrong?"

"I really never thought I'd see you again," Rose cried.

Rose kissed him passionately. They stood there, soaking in each other's presence for several minutes. Jack pulled away and smiled.

"What are you doing?" Rose asked, giggling.

Jack got down on one knee.