It was two hours after Molly's call. Rose just sat on the edge of the bed, looking into the darkness of the room, her mind roaming over what she was to do now that she no longer had a home. It wasn't that she regretted anything. She didn't. She'd do it all over again if she had to. In fact, she loved this new freedom she had worked so hard for. She was glad to be out of reach of her mother's clutches and free of the chains that both Ruth and Cal had put her in. It was just that...everything was happening so quickly, it was making her head spin. They came here for a honeymoon to remember. Now that honeymoon was turning into the biggest move Rose had to make yet. It was all too much. She just needed to take a few moments and let it all settle in.

The lightening of the room and Jack's yawn as he began to wake up told Rose that she had been sitting there for far longer than she had meant to. She looked over at her husband, who tiredly rubbed his eyes and sat up as he noticed that his wife wasn't lying beside him.

"Rose?" He frowned.

"Good morning," She tiredly smiled and leaned over to quickly kiss him. "Did you sleep well?"

"I slept great, despite the disappointment."

Rose frowned. "Hmm?"

"I didn't get to give you my final surprise. But not to worry. We'll do it tonight. No problems," Jack grinned, but the grin faded as he noticed that Rose's smile didn't necessarily meet her eyes. "Something's wrong. What happened?"

Rose sighed and turned away, not getting why she felt so...sad. She was free from her mother at last! Yes, the woman wanted to have her committed, but Rose was safe and out of reach, and thanks to Molly, she may even have a job! She couldn't explain why she felt like she had lost something.

"I called Molly last night to thank her for all she's done for us. She ended up telling me about how my mother and Cal had arrived at the diner with men in white coats and an ambulance."

"What the fuck?" Jack frowned, his concern growing. Her mother was obviously deranged! God, he wished that he didn't have to go to Vietnam! He should just dodge! Take Rose and disappear so her mother and Cal couldn't bother her anymore.

"I don't want to do what she wants me to do, so I must be crazy and must be put away," Rose rubbed her eyes, the lack of sleep beginning to hit her. "I would have done anything for her once upon a time, but the moment I stop, she wants to lock me in some psychiatric ward."

"That woman is a real piece of work. Thank god, we decided to go on this trip! You're safe, Rose. She can't touch you here!" Jack wrapped his arms around her, trying to be of some comfort. "I'm sorry Rose. I know she's awful...but she's your mother. This must hurt."

"It does. But it shouldn't be unexpected. Mother never could take rejection very well. I should be happy, you know? I'm at last free of her! No excuse to return to Philadelphia and try to maintain some kind of relationship and I did talk about wanting to move here. I just got my wish. I just...I don't know. I guess I hadn't expected to say goodbye to Philadelphia so quickly. Everything is moving so fast and now my head is starting to spin."

"It'll stop. You just need to process it all and get used to it. It's all part of starting your new life. Our new life," Jack smiled, kissing her cheek. "No matter what, Rose. You have me. And you'll always have Molly."

"Thank goodness for Molly. I would have walked into a trap if not for her. Oh! And she has a cousin here that owns a diner and may be able to give me a job. If so, then that leaves finding a place to live. Then I'm set."

"Well then let's spend today getting you set. I want to know that you have a roof over your head and four walls surrounding you before I have to report back. But tonight, I will give you my surprise."

"What?"

Jack laughed, as he planted a warm adoring kiss on her cheek. "We have to find you a place to live in. You certainly can't afford this motel room for the duration that I'm gone. I need to know where to send my letters to, don't I?"

"I suppose you do," Rose giggled, turning to meet his eyes with a small smile. "This is really happening."

"It is. Come on. Let's get started," Jack grinned, pushing aside the covers and scooting out of bed. He picked up his duffel bag and began digging for the clothes he was to wear for the day. "Where to first?"

"It's best to head to the diner Molly was talking about. I'm going to need a way to pay for my new home, right?"

"Right," Jack's grin was bright and happy as he pulled out a navy blue button-down shirt. "You know, I think I'll draw you again. After the diner. It'll be a part of your story. Your first portrait to hang in your new home here in Santa Monica."

"You're acting like I'm going on some great adventure," Rose laughed, feeling the last whisps of her dark mood fade away as she watched Jack's optimism.

"You are! I always looked at life as a great journey full of exciting adventures. You're on your journey Rose and this move is the start of a new great adventure! Don't you see that?"

Rose blinked several times, Jack's words crashing into her, filling her up with the same optimism he was now exuding. She got to her feet and wrapped her arms around him once his shirt was safely on his body, yet remained unbuttoned. She kissed his lips tenderly, savoring the moment before pulling away to gaze into his eyes. "Thank you. You're right. I was here looking at this as some chore, but you made me see it for what it was. An adventure. This is something new to experience and I should be eager for it and I am."

Jack kissed one more time before answering. "Good. I'm glad that I could make you see the positive here. I only want what's best for you Rose and I'm positive that this is the best. Yes, it's happening fast, but that's life. It waits for no one. It's like poker. You get dealt a card and you can only roll with the cards you're dealt and do the best you can. Luckily, you're getting dealt the best cards in the game right now. You've won some great tickets on your journey here and I intend on helping you cash them in."

Rose laughed and nodded. "We best get to cashing them before it gets any later I suppose. You know...you are amazing Jack. I...I love you so much."

"You're the amazing one, Rose. You're a strong woman. There's no one that I admire and love more than you."

Rose pulled him into another hug, clinging to him tightly. She loved this man so much, needed him so much. She didn't know if she'll be able to let him go when the time came, because all of the major decisions she was making now was with him by her side. Who would be by her side next time while he's away? It hurt her heart to think of the coming separation, but it was there, hanging over them like a giant balloon ready to burst.

Jack gently pulled out of the hug, quickly kissing her cheek. "You better get ready."

"You're right. Just give me a minute and then we'll be off," Rose smiled, her earlier gloominess gone.

….

The day had gone better than Rose could have even hoped for! It took only ten minutes to find Sylvie's diner. The owner, Sylvie White was indeed a cousin of Molly's and was expecting Rose's arrival. After only a few questions, where Rose explained the duties she had performed for Molly at her diner, Rose had herself a job. Not only that, but Sylvie gave Rose an address to an apartment building nearby that had a two-bedroom apartment for rent for a cheap price. Another hour of being interviewed, Rose found herself with a new home! The apartment was a nice size, big enough for a newly married couple and maybe even a child, should one appear. Of course, with Jack returning to base in a few short days, that was far from expected, but Rose still felt blessed. The apartment was more than she had hoped for, but it gave her a place to be and a home for Jack to look forward to coming back to.

Standing in the middle of the empty space that was to be the living room, Jack and Rose took a deep breath and grinned at one another.

"Welcome home, Rosie," Jack leaned in for another kiss, just for his lips to meet her cheek.

"I need furniture," Rose gasped, her eyes roaming the empty room, the bare corners very obvious.

"We'll get you furniture and food too."

"And books! Lots and lots of books! And a desk and a pen and stationery so I can write you tons of letters!"

"We'll get you those too."

"And a tea cozy!"

"A what?" Jack laughed. He couldn't help it. It was so random and out of nowhere and, Rose looked so excited at the notion of one.

"A tea cozy! I don't know what that is, but I want one!"

"We'll figure it out," Jack chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and holding in a tight embrace. "We'll get you everything you can ever need and want for this place."

"Thank goodness for the money Molly gave us. We have enough, right?"

"I suppose we do. We'll just have to be wise with our shopping. Thrift shops and flea markets...maybe even a garage sale."

"I wonder if I'll even have enough money. We have a good...three hundred left I believe. My goodness, is that enough?" Rose felt herself begin to panic. What was she going to do if it wasn't enough? It'll be a good two weeks before she was paid and she was due to start her job until the beginning of next week!

"Hey, calm down," Jack placed a calming hand against her cheek, sensing her panic. "You have me for a little bit longer. I know all about buying things for cheap. I'll help you muddle through it."

"Of course. I don't even know why I panicked. It's just...I'm realizing just how pampered I really was in that house. Sure, I worked for Molly by my own choice...but really I know nothing of the real world. Paying bills, buying food, living hand to mouth instead of everything just being provided for me. This is what I wanted but...I'm terrified, Jack."

"It's normal to be terrified, Rosie. It's not even about growing up rich. I mean...I didn't grow up in the lap of luxury, but my parents had always provided for me. They took care of everything mostly and when they died...I was at a loss on what to do without them. But I learned and now I do know and I'm here to help you. What you're feeling is what we all feel when we step out on our own. It's a part of growing up."

Rose nodded, feeling a bit better about the fits of panic she felt about all she had to do. This was normal, not a side effect of being a spoiled rich girl. "What would I do without you?"

Jack just smiled and kissed her one more time. "You'd figure it out."

There was indeed a lot to do, but that night, Jack was insistent on returning to the pier to give Rose her final surprise that had been put off for way too long. They walked hand in hand along the boardwalk, taking in the sights of the food stands and booths and the rollercoaster that towered over the pier. They remained quiet as they continued to walk towards the ocean. Rose was beginning to think that was where they were going until Jack took a different path that lead to a large ranch-style building that had horses pasturing behind a fence. Rose's eyes widened, suddenly knowing what the surprise was.

"Horseback riding!" She gasped, her face lighting up like a flashlight in a dark room. She turned to Jack and laughed. "What? Are you going to teach me to ride like a man now?"

"That's the plan," Jack grinned. "Remember, none of that side-saddle stuff."

"I love it, Jack! I love you, thank you so much...wow, it's been ages since I rode a horse," She frowned then, a thought occurring to her. "What if I had forgotten how?"

"I heard that once you learn, you never forget. But we'll take it slow. We'll ride right in the surf."

"I'd love that," Rose's wrapped her arms around Jack, pulling him in for a lingering passionate kiss before pulling away and heading for the ranch. "I want that black mare! She's gorgeous!"

Jack just laughed and followed Rose inside, where they indeed rented the black horse for Rose and a chestnut one for Jack. Soon enough, they were on top of the horses, riding down to the beach and into the surf, laughing and enjoying the disappearing sun as the day turned to evening.

That night, they returned to the motel room for their final evening taking several trips to the stars and just relishing the fact that they were together and in love and had each other, come what may.