"So, Mrs. Dawson. What is the agenda for today?" Jack asked as he stepped out of the small restroom after the warm shower he had just taken. Rose stood there admiring how his body looked all wet with a towel loosely tied around his slender hips.

"Make love to you all day long. So there may not be a need for you to put any clothes on," Rose smiled, twirling a red curl around her finger.

Jack laughed and shook his head. "Now is that any way for a well brought up lady to talk, Rose?"

"Well I'm not that well brought up lady anymore, now am I? I'm your wife. So it is very appropriate for me to at least attempt to seduce a day in bed out of my husband."

Jack sat back down on the bed and gently touched her cheek. "We only have a handful of days together. Do you really want to spend them in bed?"

"When you put it like that...no. But what do you want to do?"

"I don't know. It's your town. What do you want to do?"

Rose pursed her lips thoughtfully, wrapping her arms around Jack and leaning into him as she went over their options. They could go to the zoo or to one of the many museums in town. Sometimes one could catch a concert at one of the parks. But all of that seemed boring and mundane. She wanted to keep Jack good and entertained, as well as herself. If only they lived in California, near that Santa Monica pier that they had talked about that first day that they had met. Wait...it was a long shot, but an idea struck her and wouldn't let go.

She sat up and grinned. "I think I have an idea."

"What?"

"I can ask Molly for an advance...enough to get us to Santa Monica California. That can be our small honeymoon and we can go to that pier!"

"That'd be awesome! Do you think she'll go for it, though? Would she be willing to give you that kind of money or the time off?"

Rose shrugged. To be honest, she wasn't sure. Molly had always been kind and supportive of her, but everyone had their limits. Would this be too much? "I don't know, but it can't hurt to ask, right?"

"I guess not and if she says no, we'll think of something else to do. I'm happy as long as we're together."

Rose leaned in and kissed him passionately once again before reluctantly pulling away. "Well, I guess I had better get dressed so I can get to asking. The sooner I ask, the sooner she says yes, and the sooner we can head for Santa Monica."

Jack laughed and kissed her cheek one more time. "I agree. Plus, it's getting kind of cold in here, with me wearing just a towel and all."

…..

Molly was found in the kitchen, gathering the ingredients to make her famous chili. She grinned happily as Rose came into the kitchen, looking happier than Molly had ever seen her.

"Rose, you are absolutely glowing with happiness right now. I take it that the ray of sunshine you had just married has something to do with that," Molly greeted the young woman.

"He has everything to do with it, Molly. He is so...perfect and wonderful and...I don't regret anything. Marrying Jack was the best thing I've ever done so far," Rose sighed, opening the refrigerator and taking out an orange. "I know that you have your concerns, but this is right for me, I know it. Now I'm truly free of mother and Cal. I can do whatever I want, from here on out."

"That you can, darlin. So any idea what you plan to do now? Especially after the hubby returns to duty?"

"Well...I in the future, not a clue. But if you're talking about right now, I have an idea of what I'd like to do, but I'm afraid it'll need some help to make it happen, seeing that I really am poor now."

Molly frowned and turned to face her employee/friend. "What's going on in that head of yours, Rosie?"

"Well...when Jack and I first met, we talked about visiting the Santa Monica pier in California and doing all kinds of things together. It'd be swell if we could make a small honeymoon out of it and actually go to the pier in Santa Monica...but that would take money, a plane ticket, and not to mention room and board. What I'm trying to ask I guess is if you could possibly give me an advance? I'll pay it back or work extra extra overtime. It's just...he doesn't have that much time left and we both want to make our time together count and make memories that will last us for however long he's in Vietnam."

"Oh, Rose..."

"Do you think you can do it, Molly? If not, that's okay, I just thought that it wouldn't hurt to at least ask."

"Of course I can do it! In fact, this is not an advance and you won't have to do any extra work. Just consider this a bonus for all the hard work you've done for me so far. At best, consider it a wedding gift as well. Now I don't have to go shopping for a toaster," Molly laughed wrapping her arms around the young woman. "I am so proud of you, Rosie. It took real moxie to stand up to your mother the way you had. You deserve to have this time with your new hubby. I just wish that this war didn't exist. Then your life would be absolutely perfect."

"I know. It's so unfair."

"Alright. Let me write you a check here and the two of you can be on your way. Keep in touch so I'll know what's going on and when to expect you back."

Rose stood to the side and watched as Molly retrieved her purse and got out a pen and her checkbook. Five minutes later, Rose had the check in hand. Her eyes widened when she saw the amount. "Molly, this is probably too much."

"It's more than enough, darlin. California is an expensive place. You'll need all the money you can get your hands on. I just hope that does it."

"It most definitely should. Thank you."

Molly just laughed again and returned the hug, glad to see the happiness in not only Rose's eyes, but her entire being seemed to glow with happiness. It was something that Molly had never seen in her before, but was awfully glad to see it now.

"Anytime, darlin. Now go start that honeymoon. Don't you leave that young man waiting."

Jack was waiting for Rose when she came back into the dining area. He looked at her expectantly, not knowing what answer to expect, but judging from the small smile curving her lips, he said that the answer was good. "Well? What did she say?"

Rose held up the check with a wide grin. "Pack your bags, husband. We are going to California!"

"Woohoo!" Jack whooped, scooping Rose into his arms and whirling her around excitedly.

Rose laughed, clinging to Jack as she began to feel dizzy. "Jack, put me down! You're making a scene!"

"Oh let them watch! Seeing us so happy probably brightens their day," Jack chuckled, setting her back on her feet, but thankfully keeping his arms around her so she could regain her bearings. "So when do we leave?"

"Well, I have to book our flight and everything I guess...then there's getting somewhere to stay..."

"That shouldn't be too hard. There's always an inexpensive motel around and about. We just have to get there."

"Well come with me my love and help me make that happen. Then we'll pack and then we fly out. You call us a taxi and I'll get us some breakfast that we can take with us. We still haven't eaten," Rose giggled, kissing him again, savoring how warm his lips were and how good his strong arms felt around her.

"The busy lives of newlyweds," Jack sighed against her lips, wishing that he could just keep kissing her like this forever.

"I know darling. It's hectic, but it won't take long. Soon we'll be on the pier drinking that cheap beer you were talking about."

"Mmm, can't wait," Jack grinned, kissing her one last time before releasing her. "Well let me call that taxi."

"And I'll get that breakfast. See you in two shakes of a lamb's tail."

"Make that five shakes," Jack winked before heading off to find a payphone.

"He's awfully cute," a teen-aged girl sighed as Rose watched him leave.

Rose smiled and nodded in agreement. "He sure is."