Jack was surprised to recieve a reply from Rose. He had been certain that the last one would have scared her off, with his confession that he wouldn't mind having her to come home to once this whole war was over. He hadn't been thinking when he wrote it and now she was probably realizing just how inappropriate it was to keep this correspondence going.

Settling in onto his cot, Jack opened the letter and smiled as the scent of wild flowers drifted up from the letter. The scent of her perfume. What was this girl trying to do to him? It was bad enough having these feelings that he thought could never be returned, but this scent...it filled him with another kind of longer...a desire that could not be satisfied...not at the moment anyway.

The smile never leaving his face, he withdrew the folded stationary inside, unfolded it, and began to read...

Dear Jack,

I had just recieved your letter after coming home from a date with the most horrid man you could ever meet. Caledon Hockley is so full of himself and so boring, I nearly fell asleep. I also couldn't stop comparing him to you. You are far more interesting with your art and the stories of your life...and you listen...unlike Cal. I realized coming home that I have been waiting for a boy like you since I've began liking boys and finally, I've found you...just to have you leave for the war.

It angers me that Caledon Hockley somehow got out of going while you had to go and risk your life. It's unfair. The world needs more Jack Dawson and less Caledon Hockleys in my opinion. It should be him going away, while you stay safe here with me and make more of your beautiful art.

You said in your last letter, something about me waiting for you...and I think I will. I will wait for you Jack, because I...I think I love you. So you have to come back. So if they ask you if I'm your girl and if I am waiting for you, you tell them yes. Because I am waiting for you. I need more time in your presence, because those few hours in my car was not nearly enough.

Stay safe, Jack. Write when you can.

Love

Rose

Jack read the letter over and over again, unable to believe the words on the paper. She was going to wait for him. She thought that she loved him...and if he was honest...he was thinking along the same lines, he had just thought it impossible. He pressed the letter against his nose and breathed in the scent of her perfume and felt his heart beat a little bit faster. Yeah, it probably was love. But should he accept her offer to wait for him? Was it fair? He had no idea if he was going to be getting out of this alive or not...this could all end in heartbreak for Rose and she didn't deserve that. But she did deserve a chance with a man that didn't bore her to death like this Hockley fella obviously did.

If the worse should happen...he believed that she was strong...she'll grieve then move on...but most importantly, she'll be free to move on. Hockley would most likely be out of her life and she could find love again. If by chance he got out of this in one piece, he'll return to her and never leave her side again.

Putting away her letter, he took out his own pen and paper and began to write...

Dearest Rose,

Your letter, what can I say? It has touched me more than I could ever express on paper. I had never expected your offer to wait for me...or the statement that this thing between us just might be love. I have to admit, the way my heart beats when reading your letters, or just thinking about you (which I do all the time these days), it has me agreeing with you. This may indeed be love and if it is, I definitely want to make it count.

I also admit some reluctance to take you up on that offer. My situation is a precarious one. I may not return from Vietnam and it'll leave you heartbroken. That's something I never want to do, Rose. I don't want to break your heart. I want to only bring you happiness. But our situation is not one for happiness, is it? It makes me sad that I couldn't have met you before this. I hate that I had to go to war at all. I would much rather spend my days by your side, gazing into your beautiful eyes than here, learning how to shoot people. But it is what is.

So I'm going to have to make you promise me, if the worse should happen...that you won't grieve me for too long. That you'll go on with your life...find love again, have lots of babies and watch them grow and then die an old old lady, warm in her bed. Promise me that, Rose and then I can be sure that admitting these feelings won't lead you to disaster.

Because I do love you and I only want the best for you. I want you to live a free, happy life, even if I can't be with you. But then again, I always will be. Even now, so many miles away.

Promise me, Rose...

Love

Jack

...

Rose didn't have time to read Jack's letter when it arrived, so she took it into work with her. When her break finally came around,she found a quiet place to sit and began to read his reply. She couldn't help her smile as he wrote that he returned her feelings, or her slight frown at his worries over doing so. She could understand why he was reluctant, scared to promise her something that he couldn't. But she wasn't stupid. She knew what she was getting into. He didn't have to promise her anything really, she just wanted him to know that she loved him and would be here for him if he did make it out of the war.

As for the promise that he wanted her to make herself...well...she'll promise him anything.

"Rose?" Molly stepped into the small breakroom, curious where the girl had gone off to. She smiled when she saw Rose reading her letter. "Ah, another letter, huh?"

Rose smiled and nodded. "Yes. He's...everything I've ever wanted, Molly. I just wish I had known him l longer...that time in the car...it was too short."

"You sound like you two are becoming more than pen pals there," Molly couldn't help the worried frown.

Rose sighed as she folded Jack's letter and returned it to the envelope. "Perhaps we are. I know it's crazy. He was just a soldier I had spent two hours with and write to...but there's something there between us, Molly. Something...strong and unforgettable. I spent the date with Cal the other night bored to tears, wishing that he was Jack instead."

"Oh Rose..."

"I know what you're going to say. Don't give up something for nothing. But don't you see, it's already nothing with Cal. Jack may not be here in the flesh, but he is in my heart and...it's the possibility of something. In any case, it's better than the misery I have with Cal. I can't even respect the man, much less like him."

Molly sighed, getting where Rose was coming from, but it didn't stop her from worrying. But it was Rose's life. She couldn't tell her what to do. "So, what are you going to tell your mother? You know that she's expecting you to up and marry Cal. She's counting on it."

"Mother is going to have to live her own life. This isn't 1912 anymore. She is a good looking woman, she can find her own rich man to marry. If she likes Cal so much, she can marry him herself."

Molly laughed at this, the vision of Ruth marrying Caledon Hockley popping up into her head, it was hilarious, but it could work. Rose may be on to something. "That she can, darlin!"

Rose glanced at the clock and quickly got to her feet. "Break is over, I better get out there before Helga has my head."

"It's not too busy out there, don't break your neck, now," Molly chuckled, getting to her feet as well. "Oh and Rose...break up with Hockley if you must...but just be careful with this Jack fella. Get to know him in the flesh before accepting any marriage proposals.''

Rose just smiled and gave a small nodd, happy that she had Molly's support in her upcoming plans. Yes, the future with Jack may be an uncertain one, but it was one that she wanted. It was future that she chose over being an decorative arm piece for Caledon Hockley.