Jack stares at his mother. He doesn't move, he doesn't collapse, he doesn't cry out, he just stands there, at a loss. He had imagined countless things that could have happened in the time he'd been gone, but this was not one of them.

His father, Johnathon Dawson, gone, it just isn't something Jack can grasp. The man he'd known was so bright, strong, wise, warm, welcoming, intelligent, and seemingly invincible. The fact that he is gone...it's almost inconceivable. Jack lets out a barely audible whisper, "Pa...no...I-when?"

This time, Julie speaks, holding in tears of her own, "He died on April 15th. It was early, practically the middle of the night. He woke up, told us each how much he loved us, told us to tell you how much he loved you, and then...he was gone."

The date makes everything worse. Standing there, all alone, Jack looks ready to break, but unwilling to with everyone looking at him and no one to turn to. Rose can't bear it anymore and she walks up behind him. She slowly reaches out and places her hand on Jacks shoulder. She whispers, "Jack?"

Rose feels Jack lean into her hand, but he doesn't respond. Rose moves her hand along his back to his other shoulder so she can pull him into her. Jack turns into her and rests his head on her shoulder, tears silently streaming down his face. Rose hold him close to her and strokes his hair. She whispers into his ear, "It's alright, Jack. It will okay. I know what this is like, I know how much it hurts, but you'll get through it, we'll get through it. Everything will be alright."

She continues to comfort him for some time, stroking his hair as he cries. Eventually, Jack pulls away and wipes his eyes once, "I-I'm sorry. I..."

Danny shakes his head, "What are you sorry for? Do you think we expected you not to be sad or upset? I'd be worried if you weren't."

Jack looks at him and opens his mouth to respond, but ends up just nodding.

Ma speaks up, "If you'd like, we can take you to his grave tomorrow, or some other time."

Jack nods, "I'd like that."

Julie speaks up, nodding towards Rose, "So, we never got an answer as to who this is."

Jack looks at Rose and smiles, his troubles momentarily forgotten, taking her hand, "This is my soulmate, the meaning in my life, my savior, the light of my life, the love of my life, and my wife...Rose Dawson."

Rose blushes at his words and her heart flutters. Everyone's mouth drops open in shock. Alex stammers, "Y-Your married?"

Danny reaches out to ruffle Jack's hair with a laugh, "That's both the boys before me! How unattractive am I?"

Julie looks away from Rose and to Jack, "Should I scream, squeal, cry, laugh, or punch you?"

Jack and Rose laugh and Jack says, "Preferably not the first of last options."

Julie squeals and laughs before running to hug him, "I can't believe it! I can't believe you're married."

Suddenly she pulls away and turns to Rose, dead serious, "Wait, I've gotta make sure she's good enough."

Jack gives a facepalm and says with a smile, "For God's sake Julie, she's more than good enough! I'm not good enough for her! I don't deserve her!"

Rose laughs, "That's not true, Jack."

Jack shakes his head with a smile, "Anyway, I know you'll love each other and I know Rose will meet whatever 'standards' you have, Julie. I mean, honestly, I've lost count of how many times she's saved my life. She's been willing to die for me, and she's the one that convinced me to come back."

Julie crosses her arms, "Alright, but she's high society. How do I know she won't pull what Cecile did?"

Rose speaks up this time, "Believe me I won't. I would rather die than go back there to what they had planned for me. It's true. You can ask Jack. That's, um, actually part of how we met. Anyway, I would never intentionally do anything to hurt Jack, unless his life depended on it and, he's right, I'd give my life for him without a second thought."

Julie blinks before saying, "Well, then. I guess that solves that."

Ma walks over to Jack with a shocked laugh, "I have to say, I expected a lot of things to happen while you were gone, but certainly not this. Congratulations, my son. I couldn't be more happy."

Jack smiles, "Well, I think I might be able to make you a little more happy."

Ma raises an eyebrow, "How's that."

Jack looks to Rose, "Do you wanna tell them, if they haven't already noticed?"

Rose gives a bashful smile, "You can."

Jack smiles and puts his arm around her shoulders, "Alright. Rose is expecting. By the end of this year, we should have a new little Dawson."

Now Julie gives more of a high pitched scream than a squeal, "Holy shit, no way! I'm gonna by an aunt! My twin is going to be a father!"

Danny laughs and shakes his head, saying to Julie, "Language," then to Jack, "Well, I'll be. You really have grown up and matured since five years ago. My little brother, a father...wow."

Even Alex looks happy for Jack, "Wow, I really wasn't expecting that. I...congratulations, Jack. Congratulations."

Ma looks like she could faint just about any moment, "I...Rose is pregnant...You're going to be a father...I'm going to be a grandmother...Good grief!"

Everyone laughs and Jack's eyes fall on the young woman who had first answered the door. Julie had said her name at some point, but he couldn't remember it, "So, who's this?"

The girl smiles, a little nervously, and holds out her hand, which Jack takes, "I'm Amanda...Amanda Dawson."

Jack raises his eyebrows in question and Amanda answers, "Your brother, Alexander, is my husband. We got married last week actually."

Her and Alex share a look full of happiness and Jack just stares in shock, first at Amanda then at Alex, "Wow...I, um, well, congratulations. That's amazing, really."

Alex smiles at Amanda, "She's the best thing that's happened to me since you left, she's helped me more than I can say. I love her so much I can't put it into words. She's my world."

Amanda blushes and Jack laughs, "I sure know what that feels like. It's a pleasure to meet you, Amanda."

She smiles more freely this time, "The pleasure is mine."

A silence settles over everyone, as they are all unsure of what to do next. Julie is the first to break the silence, "So, um, I'm sure you both had a long trip, would you like me to show you to your room so you guys can unpack? I can help if you'd like. And I'm sure someone could pull some food together, you both must be hungry. Y-You both are staying right?"

Jack nods, "If you'll have us. We were hoping to stay until Rose gives birth and who knows how long after that."

Ma answers, "You can stay as long as you'd like. You will always be welcome here at home."

Julie grins, "So, shall I show you both to Jack's room?"

Rose smiles, "That would be lovely."

Jack nods, "Sure."

Julie leads Jack and Rose to Jack's old room and the rest of the family members busy themselves with something or other while Caroline goes to heat up some food for the travelers.

To the left of the house's front door is a living room, in front of it a small dining room with a door to outback, to the left of that and behind the living room is a kitchen, and to the right of the door is a hallway lined with doors, three on the left, two to the right, and one at the end. Julie leads them down the hallway to the first door on the right and opens the door before stepping to the side.

Jack slowly walks in first, taking in his old room. It hasn't changed much. His bed looks freshly made with the same covers. His bookshelves recently dusted and with generally the same books. None of the furniture has been moved either. The same brown wooden bed is still in the corner to the left of the door, his old dresser is next to the wall on his right, his bookshelves are still on the far wall, his plain vanity still right next to them, the door to his closet is slightly open, the way he always left it.

Jack walks further in and runs his fingers along the dresser, breathing in the room's smell. He continues in a circle around the room, running his fingers over everything until he gets to the bed. Then he looks at Rose, who stands in the center of the room with an absent minded smile on her face as she looks around. She catches Jack watching her and turns to him, "I love it."

Jack smiles, "I'm glad."

Rose laughs, "I can just picture you growing up in here."

All three of them laugh and then Jack looks at Julie, "Why is everything all freshly cleaned and such? It's not like you guys were expecting me or anything."

Julie looks down, "W-We weren't, but...well, I've always had it like this. Since the day you left I treated the room like you were still here. As a matter of fact, I spent-spend a lot of time in here. Especially in the first year, being in here helped me feel close to you. Everything still smelled like you for a good while, if you know what I mean."

Jack nods, "Yeah. Yeah, I get that," he smiles and laughs a little, "That little scarf of yours that you gave me the day I left...I did the same thing with that."

Julie grins, "You still have it? You get your room back, I want the scarf back! I used that all the time."

Jack freezes. Of course he didn't have the scarf, he'd lost everything except the clothes on his back when Titanic sunk, "I...I..."

Julie frowns, clearly upset, not by the fact that Jack doesn't have her favorite scarf, but by the fact that she thinks he got rid of it, "Don't tell me you got rid of it when you stopped writing and all that."

Jack shakes his head, "Of course not. I could never bring myself to get rid of the last thing I had left of you, no matter how much it hurt. It was...kind of stolen from me."

Julie raises an eyebrow, "And these thieves just stole one damn scarf?"

Jack exchanges a look with Rose, "No, I lost pretty much everything except the clothes on my back."

Julie looks surprised, "Good grief, had they no mercy?"

Jack gives a cold laugh, thinking of the mercilessness of the Atlantic Ocean that night, "Oh believe me, merciless. I was lucky to get away with what I did."

Julie opens her mouth to respond, but Jack, catching sight of Rose's tense and unhappy face, he changes the subject, "Anyway, we should probably be getting our stuff unpacked so we don't keep everyone waiting."

Julie nods, "Do you need any help?"

Jack shakes his head, "I think we're good. I'd like to talk to Rose for a minute anyway."

Julie nods, "Alright, see you when you're done. Feel free to call if you need anything."

She goes to leave, but before she closes the door, she says to Jack, "Welcome home. We sure have missed you."

Jack nods, "I missed you too."

With that, Julie leaves and Jack turns to Rose with a smile, "So? What do you think?"

Rose laughs, "I-I love everything! I love your family, they're so sweet. I love your house, it's beautiful and so...warm and welcoming. I love your room and I can picture every stage of you in here."

Jack smiles, "Well, it sure is home, to say the least."

Rose laughs again and runs over to Jack, dropping her things, to pull him into a kiss and a hug, with her arms wrapped around his neck, "I love you and I love all this."

Jack pulls her into another kiss, "I love you too. I love you so much."

"I love you more"

"I love you most"

"I love you more than most."

"I love you more than you love me."

Rose raises an eyebrow, "That's not possible."

Jack rubs his nose against hers in a nose kiss, "Then I love you just the same."

Rose giggles, "That's almost a poem."

Jack laughs, "Our poem."

"Yes, ours. Now, we have work to do. Let's unpack."

...

Soon enough, Jack and Rose have finished packing and they go out to find a nice, but modest, lunch set out on the table. As everyone sits down, it's Danny who asks the question that's been on everyone's minds, "So, what happened while you were gone? What did you do and how'd the both of you meet?"

Jack takes a deep breath, "Well, I guess I'll start at the beginning. You all know about me meeting Micheal and James, my friendship with them. Everything was going fine, I was still writing you all and everything, but then on day I sat down to write and...I guess something just snapped inside me and the next thing I knew I was crying. I was homesick, missing the lot of you, and I just hated knowing that you all were right there and I just couldn't go to you without hurting you. I couldn't write, I couldn't even bring myself to open Julie's letters. Eventually, I decided that I just needed to get out of Santa Monica as well, then I could erase the temptation of going back by lying to everyone, including myself, by saying you all died. I know it was wrong and stupid, but I did it anyway.

"Well, then I left Santa Monica and I went to several places in the States. I visited San Francisco, New Orleans, New York, Tennessee, you name it. I never stayed anywhere for more than four weeks. Then I took off for Europe. After visiting a few places there, I met my best friend Fabrizio when I was almost twenty. He was from Italy and looking for an excuse to go places, I gave him just that. We went all over the place, Switzerland, Paris, eventually England."

Jack tells them a bit about Fabrizio, per Julie's request, before he continues, "We'd been in England for some time when we wound up in a poker match where we won tickets back to New York. That's where Rose comes in."

Jack looks at Rose and she smiles, "The first time I saw Jack, I'd just left lunch after insulting the maker of the ship, much to my fiance's and mother's embarrasm-"

Julie interjects, "Your what?!"

Rose hesitates, "My fiance...You see, I was stuck in an arranged engagement with a man I hated. He mentally and physically abused me, yet my mother didn't care. She only cared for her status. As I said earlier, I'd rather die than have lived that...and that's what I was going to do."

No one even moves as what Rose just implied sinks in. Alex looks at her, "Y-You were going to kill yourself."

"Yes. I'd had enough. It felt as though I was standing on the edge of a great precipice and no one cared, or even noticed. I had a panic attack and the next thing I knew I was running down the length of the ship until there was no more ship. Then I was on the other side of the railing and Jack showed up behind me."

Jack takes over, "I talked her out of it using the time I was ice fishing with Pa and I fell through some thin ice. Turns out Rosie doesn't like the cold."

Everyone laughs except Ma, "You did what ice fishing?"

Jack looks like a deer caught in headlights at that, "I-W-We never told you about that, did we?"

"You certainly did not."

Julie steps in to save Jack, "Oh, Ma, let it go. He's all good and well now. Now, get on with the story!"

Jack laughs, "Alright, well, I eventually talked her over to the right side of the railing, but not before she slipped. I managed to save her, but we landed ourselves in a rather unfortunate predicament when her a sailor came upon me lying on top of a crying first class lady with a rip in her dress...get the image? Well, her fiance sure didn't like that, but Rose made up a story of her doing...what was it again? Looking at propellers and slipping?"

Rose nods with a slight smirk and Jack goes on, "The idiots bought it though, and I got myself invited to a first class dinner."

They go on to tell Jack's family their entire story, just not the whole Titanic part. Eventually though, the question of how they escaped came up from Julie, "So, if Rose was stuck in that engagement, I doubt they'd just let her run off. Neither of you are stupid so you either staged something or you know they're hot on your trail."

Rose nods, "They think I'm dead."

Julie's eyebrows shoot up, "How in the Hell did you manage that? They obviously don't have a body."

Rose hesitates, "Well, they think I drowned."

Julie scoffs, "What, they think you fell off the boat or something?"

Rose bites her lip, looking to Jack for help, "It's a rather complicated scenario, but they all fell for it. I mean, they were stupid enough to think I almost fell looking at the propellers."

Everyone in the family seems to buy the story, except Julie, but the subject gets changed by Danny, "So, where are all your friends now? You've told us about Micheal, James, and Fabrizio."

"James is married and has opened a bed and breakfast, an odd little dream of his. He's got a kid as well, a little girl. We actually stayed at his place for our time in Santa Monica. Micheal's an actor at the town theater there. He's something of a local celebrity and he's got himself a girl now too. A good friend of ours, Alica. And Fabrizio...I-I'm not sure really. I haven't seen him since we docked."

Julie gives a play pout, "Oh come on. I was really liking him, you gotta let me meet him someday."

Jack forces a smile, "Y-Yeah, maybe one day."

Rose, seeing Jack's discomfort, turns to Alex, "So, what's your and Amanda's story?"

Alex and Amanda look at each other before Alex starts, "Well, She moved to town not long after Jack left and she kind of pulled me out of the hole I was stuck in. I wasn't happy for a long time after you left, it was Amanda who changed that. We began courting when I was sixteen and she was eighteen. It was about half a year ago we got engaged and we were supposed to get married in March but...well, Pa got sick. The wedding got moved to last week and now here we are. Not much to tell, just a classic hometown love story, but it sure is love."

Alex reaches under the table and takes Amanda's hand with a smile. Jack and Rose do the same. Julie gives a playful frown and says, "Now I feel like I should be holding someone's hand, you damned lovebirds. Come on, Danny. You love me, take my hand so I don't feel odd."

Everyone starts laughing and they finish the lunch with no more than small talk. Everyone avoids the topic of Cecile and her mother, Charlotte, but everyone knows it can't be avoided for long. After all, with this town, Charlotte probably already knows Jack is home, and it won't be long before she does something about it.

...

The rest of the day is spent with the family getting to know Rose better, continuing to catch up with Jack, and Jack and Rose getting to know Amanda. Everyone loves Rose and she fits right in with the family.

Eventually, Rose announces that she'll retire for the night, though it's rather early, because she's feeling oddly tired. Her tiredness is beginning to worry Jack, and he's wondering if they should go see a doctor and he decides to join her so he can bring it up and the rest of the family disperses to do what needs to be done.

As Jack makes his way to his room, a voice stops him, "So, how'd you and Rose really meet?"

Jack stops and looks over his shoulder at Julie, who is leaning against the wall, "I don't kn-"

She cuts him off, crossing her arms and pushing away from the wall, "Don't pull that on me Jack Dawson. I'm your twin, I can tell when your lying. Thing is, you've never kept anything from me, so I don't know why you are now. I mean honestly, you expect me to buy that you just staged her death and they bought it? That's bullshit, Jack, and you know it."

Jack turns to face her, "You don't know what you're pushing, Julie. It's something better left alone."

"Oh, come on, Jack."

Jack shakes his head, "I'm serious Julie. This isn't what your expecting, it's not something you'll wanna hear and it's not something we want to tell. I-It's hard to explain, but it'll be best if you just drop it."

Jack turns to walk away, but Julie grabs his arm, "Why can't you just tell me?"

Jack looks back to her, "Julie, Rose and I told you all the general story...but, what you're asking for...neither of us our ready to relive that night in our minds, and I'm not gonna force Rose to tell something she's not ready to tell."

Julie narrows her eyes in confusion, "What the Hell? I'm only asking for the whole story of how you two met!"

Jack shakes his head, "It's more than than, Julie, it involves a whole 'nother story. I-I just can't tell you yet. And look, I know you've always been the detective around here, but this isn't something you want to investigate."

Julie is clearly hurt as she whispers, "What happened to the Jack who I shared all my secrets with as he did with me? What happened to the Jack that never kept anything from me?"

Jack looks at her hard, "He grew up. He went through Hell...and he doesn't want to put his sister through hearing that Hell."

Her eyes widen, "I...what the heck happened to you?"

Jack pulls out of her grasp, "Drop it, Julianna. Drop it if you know what's best for you...and I. Just drop it and one day you'll find out, when the time is right."

On hearing Jack use her full name, Julie shuts up. Jack almost never uses that unless he's beyond dead serious about something. Julie watches as Jack disappears into the room without a backwards glance.

Just then, Julie feels something in her chest, a sensation she hasn't had since Jack cut contact. It's the odd sensation she gets whenever she feels what Jack is feeling for a moment. What she feels now, is a feeling she's never felt from Jack before. A feeling of true loss, and sadness, and a gap that can't be filled.

She knows Jack told her to drop it, and she knows she should, but something inside Julie makes her walk to the door and press her ear against it.

...

The second Jack closes the door, he looks behind him to see Rose standing there with her arms out to him. She'd heard the whole thing, something in her eyes tells him that, and it only takes a moment for him to be in her arms, crying, "How do I do it, Rose, how? I hate this. I hate it! I've never kept anything from Julie before, anything, but I just...I know we can't tell them all about it yet. We haven't even come to terms with what happened ourselves."

Rose strokes his hair, "I know, I know. You did the right thing. She'll find out in time."

"I know that, but it still hurts. I want to tell her so bad, I really do, but she just has to understand that I, we, can't."

"She will, trust me. She's your twin, she'll understand you."

Jack sighs, "And, at lunch, when she asked about Fabrizio, goddammit that hurt like Hell. What was I supposed to say, 'Oh sorry, Julie, I can't ever take you to see my best friend because I killed him.' I mean, I had no choice, but to lie."

Rose pulls Jack away and holds his shoulders, looking into his eyes, "I will tell you this as many times as it takes for you to understand it, Jack. You did not kill Fabrizio. You didn't. What happened was no one's fault, not a thing could have been done about it. It was just the way things went."

Jack looks away, "Rose..."

"Don't you dare deny it, Jack. We've gone over this time and time again."

"And I still blame myself, I always will."

Rose pulls him back into the hug, "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm so sorry this happened to you. You didn't deserve it."

"Neither did you, but it's just how it happens and we gotta take life as it comes at us, right?"

Rose smiles, "And make each day count."

Jack nods, "That's right. Now, come on. You said you were tired, let's get you to bed."

Julie straightens up from the door. Her eyes wide, she whispers, "Holy shit."

A/N: Credit for the drawing of the new cover goes to BlondeBarbieGirl, who is now also my editor for this story. Big thanks to her! I recommend you go check out her new story "My Sunshine," it's positively beautiful.

So...we're glitching...again. Try 2, fingers crossed.